Skilled Worker Visa UK: Applicant Guide 2026

Section A: Can You Get a Skilled Worker Visa?

The Skilled Worker visa allows an overseas worker to come to the UK, or remain in the UK after an eligible in-country application, to work in a specific sponsored role.

The sponsoring employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and assign a Certificate of Sponsorship confirming the role, occupation code, salary, working hours and proposed employment dates.

The visa does not provide an unrestricted right to work for any UK employer. Permission is granted on the basis of the sponsored role. A worker who later changes employer or moves into a job under a different occupation code will normally need new sponsorship and a further Skilled Worker application before starting the new role.

What is a Skilled Worker visa?

The Skilled Worker visa is the main UK immigration route for overseas nationals taking up eligible employment with a Home Office-licensed sponsor. It can be used to come to the UK to work or, where the rules allow, to switch into the route from within the UK.

The employer has to assign a Certificate of Sponsorship for the proposed job. The sponsorship record contains information about the role on which the application is based, including the occupation code, salary, working hours and proposed employment dates.

Skilled Worker permission is linked to the sponsored employment. It does not give an unrestricted right to work for any employer in the UK. A change of employer or certain changes to the sponsored role can require new sponsorship and a further visa application before the new employment begins.

Who can apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa if you have an eligible sponsored job and meet the requirements that apply to your application. The employer must be authorised to sponsor Skilled Workers, the role must qualify under the route and you must be assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.

Eligibility also depends on the salary for the job, the applicable skill rules and your English language ability. Financial, suitability and supporting evidence requirements can also apply depending on your circumstances.

The Skilled Worker route is not generally a visa that you obtain first and then use to look for unrestricted employment in the UK. You ordinarily need the qualifying job offer and sponsorship in place before making the application.

What are the Skilled Worker visa eligibility requirements?

The requirements operate together. Meeting one does not compensate for failing another unless the Immigration Rules expressly provide for a tradeable points option.

Occupation and salary eligibility are closely connected. The occupation code determines whether the job can be sponsored and can affect the salary requirement that applies. The Certificate of Sponsorship then records the employment details relied on in the application. Those elements therefore have to describe the same qualifying role.

How many points do you need for a Skilled Worker visa?

You need 70 points to qualify under the Skilled Worker points requirements. Fifty are mandatory points for sponsorship, a job at the appropriate skill level and English language ability. A further 20 points have to be awarded under one of the salary or other tradeable points options available under the rules.

The points calculation is not the whole application. An applicant can meet the 70-point requirement but still fail to qualify because of a separate financial, suitability, immigration status or evidential requirement.

Quick Skilled Worker visa eligibility check

Before applying, check the requirements in the order in which they affect the viability of the application:

• Do you have an eligible job offer from a licensed Skilled Worker sponsor?
• Has the employer assigned you a valid Certificate of Sponsorship?
• Does the occupation code properly reflect the job you will actually perform?
• Is that occupation available for sponsorship under the rules applying to you?
• Does the salary meet the requirements of an available Skilled Worker salary option?
• Do you meet the applicable English language requirement?
• Can you meet the financial, suitability and supporting evidence requirements that apply to your case?

Where the financial requirement applies, an applicant will generally need to show at least £1,270 available for maintenance. An applicant who has already been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months can be exempt from showing the funds, while an A-rated sponsor can in specified circumstances certify maintenance instead.

A problem at one stage does not always mean that the Skilled Worker route is unavailable. Different occupation, salary and transitional provisions apply to specified applicants and jobs. The relevant rule therefore has to be identified before concluding that a role or applicant qualifies.

Section B: Does Your Job Qualify?

A Skilled Worker visa can only be granted for a job that is eligible under the route. Eligibility depends on the occupation code that applies to the work, the skill level assigned to that occupation and, for some roles, whether the job appears on a specified occupation list or falls within a transitional provision.

The job title alone does not determine whether a role qualifies. The occupation code has to reflect the work you will actually perform, and that code can also affect the salary requirement that applies to your application.

Which jobs qualify for a Skilled Worker visa?

For most new applicants, the job must be in an occupation classed as higher skilled and skilled to RQF Level 6 or above. The eligible occupation codes and their classifications are set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Some medium-skilled jobs can also qualify, but only where the Immigration Rules specifically allow access to the route. Current exceptions include specified jobs on the Temporary Shortage List or Immigration Salary List, together with transitional provisions for certain workers who were already in the Skilled Worker route before the skill threshold changed.

An occupation being eligible does not mean that every job carrying a similar title qualifies. The duties and level of the particular role have to be consistent with the occupation code used for sponsorship.

See our Appendix Skilled Occupations list for the current Skilled Worker occupation codes and classifications.

What skill level does a Skilled Worker job need?

Most new Skilled Worker applicants need a job in an occupation at RQF Level 6 or above, broadly corresponding to graduate-level work. The skill threshold applies to the occupation rather than to the applicant’s academic qualifications.

You do not therefore need to hold a degree simply because the job is classified at RQF Level 6. An employer, professional body or regulator can separately require particular qualifications for the role, but that is different from the immigration skill-level test.

Equally, holding a degree or extensive professional experience does not make an otherwise ineligible job suitable for Skilled Worker sponsorship. The assessment is based on the sponsored job itself.

How do I find my Skilled Worker occupation code?

Skilled Worker jobs are classified using SOC 2020 occupation codes. Your sponsor is responsible for selecting the code and recording it on your Certificate of Sponsorship, but applicants should still check that the code is consistent with the job they have been offered.

The correct code should reflect the main duties of the role, its level of responsibility and the skills needed to perform the work. Similar job titles can fall within different occupation codes, while jobs with different titles can sometimes fall under the same code.

A published example job title is therefore an indicator rather than a substitute for considering the actual role. UKVI can look beyond the title used in the employment contract or Certificate of Sponsorship when deciding whether the occupation code is appropriate.

The occupation code also matters because it can determine the applicable going rate and whether a particular salary concession or other Skilled Worker provision is available.

Can the wrong occupation code lead to refusal?

Appendix Skilled Worker requires the sponsor to select an appropriate occupation code. UKVI can refuse the application where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a less appropriate code has been selected to make the job eligible, obtain a lower going rate or gain access to a provision that would not otherwise apply.

When considering the code, UKVI can examine whether the sponsor has a genuine need for the job, whether your skills and experience are consistent with the role and other information relating to the proposed employment.

An applicant should therefore query a code that does not appear to match the job description rather than assuming that the sponsor’s selection will be accepted automatically.

Can medium-skilled jobs qualify for a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes, but medium-skilled occupations no longer have general access to the Skilled Worker route for new applicants. Entry clearance and switching applications for jobs below RQF Level 6 are limited to occupations that qualify under a specified exception, principally the Temporary Shortage List or Immigration Salary List.

Separate transitional provisions can allow some existing Skilled Workers to continue in medium-skilled occupations that would no longer be open to a new applicant. Whether those provisions apply can depend on when the worker first obtained Skilled Worker permission, whether permission has been held continuously and the occupation in which they are now being sponsored.

The position should therefore be checked against the specific occupation code and the applicant’s immigration history. A medium-skilled role available to one existing Skilled Worker may not be available to another applicant making their first Skilled Worker application.

What is the Temporary Shortage List?

The Temporary Shortage List allows specified medium-skilled occupations to remain open to certain Skilled Worker applications despite the general RQF Level 6 skill threshold.

Where a qualifying occupation is on the current list, an applicant can in principle apply for entry clearance or switch into the Skilled Worker route, provided the other requirements are met. The current Immigration Rules require the relevant Certificate of Sponsorship to be issued before 31 December 2026 for an occupation relying on the Temporary Shortage List.

The list is time-limited and does not mean that every job within a listed occupation will qualify. Any restriction applying to the particular occupation entry still has to be satisfied.

See our Temporary Shortage List guidance for the current occupations and conditions.

What is the Immigration Salary List?

The Immigration Salary List contains specified occupations for which particular Skilled Worker provisions can apply. It can also provide access to the route for some medium-skilled occupations that would otherwise fall below the current skill threshold.

Whether an applicant can rely on the list depends on the exact occupation entry and any geographical or job-specific restriction attached to it. Inclusion on the Immigration Salary List can also affect the salary option available, but it does not remove the requirement to meet the applicable salary rules.

The Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List perform different functions under the current Skilled Worker framework and should not be treated as interchangeable.

See our Immigration Salary List guide for the occupations currently included.

Can care workers still get a Skilled Worker visa?

Care workers and senior care workers under occupation codes 6135 and 6136 are subject to separate restrictions. New entry clearance applications for these roles are no longer permitted. Applications are restricted to qualifying applicants applying for permission to stay in the UK.

Under the current rules, an applicant who does not already hold Skilled Worker permission sponsored in one of those care occupations will generally need to have been legally working for the proposed sponsor in occupation code 6135 or 6136 for at least the three months ending on the date the Certificate of Sponsorship is issued. That transitional route is currently limited to applications made before 22 July 2028.

Different provisions apply to existing Skilled Workers already sponsored in care worker or senior care worker occupations. Where the work is in England, the sponsor will also generally need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission and carrying on a regulated activity, subject to limited transitional exceptions.

The rules for these occupations are therefore materially different from the general Skilled Worker requirements. See our UK care worker visa guide for the current eligibility and transitional provisions.

Does the job have to be genuine?

Yes. Skilled Worker sponsorship has to relate to a genuine job that the sponsor needs to fill. UKVI can examine the proposed role when considering whether the occupation code and sponsorship satisfy the Immigration Rules.

Concerns can arise where the job does not appear to exist in practice, the duties have been exaggerated to place the role within an eligible occupation or the description does not fit the sponsor’s business or the applicant’s proposed work.

Your previous experience is not itself an immigration requirement for every Skilled Worker job, but UKVI can consider whether your skills, qualifications and experience are consistent with the sponsored role when assessing whether the occupation code has been selected appropriately.

A sponsor licence and assigned Certificate of Sponsorship do not prevent UKVI from examining the substance of the job as part of the visa application.

Section C: Skilled Worker Visa Salary Requirements

Salary is a separate Skilled Worker eligibility requirement from the skill level of the job. It is not enough for the role to be eligible for sponsorship: the pay also has to satisfy one complete salary option under the Immigration Rules.

For most new applicants, the standard position is that salary must be at least £41,700 a year and at least the full going rate for the occupation code. Where the going rate produces a higher minimum salary, the higher figure has to be paid.

The occupation tables also incorporate an applicable hourly salary floor, meaning a role can fail the salary requirement even where its annualised salary appears to meet the headline threshold.

What is the Skilled Worker visa minimum salary?

Under the standard Skilled Worker salary option, you must normally be paid at least £41,700 a year and 100% of the going rate for your occupation code.

The £41,700 figure is therefore not a universal minimum salary for every Skilled Worker job. If the applicable going rate is higher than £41,700, your salary will need to meet the higher going-rate figure. Equally, some applicants can qualify under another salary option with a lower general threshold or a reduced percentage of the going rate.

The first question is therefore not simply whether your salary exceeds £41,700. You need to identify the occupation code, the salary option available to you and the going rate that applies to the job.

Separate salary provisions apply to specified health and education occupations, while lower transitional thresholds can apply to certain existing Skilled Workers. The correct salary option depends on the occupation and, in some cases, the applicant’s immigration and sponsorship history.

See our Skilled Worker minimum salary guide for detailed guidance on the current thresholds and salary options.

How do the Skilled Worker salary rules work?

For most applicants, salary eligibility involves two figures rather than one: the general salary threshold for the salary option being used and the relevant percentage of the going rate for the occupation.

The job has to meet both requirements. A salary above the general threshold will not qualify if it remains below the required going rate. Likewise, meeting the going rate will not be enough where the annual salary remains below the applicable general threshold.

A useful order for checking the salary position is:

1. identify the correct occupation code;
2. identify which Skilled Worker salary option is available to you;
3. check the general salary threshold for that option;
4. check the going rate for the occupation code;
5. adjust the going rate for the sponsored working hours where required; and
6. confirm that the proposed salary satisfies both applicable figures.

The salary recorded on the Certificate of Sponsorship should reflect the pay on which the Skilled Worker application is based.

What is the Skilled Worker going rate?

Each eligible occupation code has a going rate used to assess whether the proposed salary is sufficient for that type of work. The relevant figure is set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations.

For many occupations, the published annual going rate is based on a 37.5-hour working week. The figure has to be adjusted where the sponsored working hours differ from the hours on which the published rate is based.

The percentage of the going rate you have to meet depends on the salary option being relied on. An applicant under the standard salary option normally needs 100% of the going rate, while qualifying PhD and new entrant applicants can in specified circumstances rely on 90%, 80% or 70% of the relevant rate.

See our Skilled Worker going rate guide for occupation-specific salary information.

How do working hours affect the going rate?

For occupation codes whose published going rates are based on a 37.5-hour week, the annual going rate is adjusted to reflect the weekly hours stated by the sponsor.

For example, if the full going rate for an occupation is £45,000 based on 37.5 hours and you will be sponsored to work 40 hours each week, the adjusted going rate would be:

£45,000 × 40 ÷ 37.5 = £48,000

An applicant relying on the standard salary option would therefore need to be paid at least £48,000 for that 40-hour role, even though the general threshold is £41,700.

The calculation works differently from simply asking whether the annual salary exceeds the headline Skilled Worker threshold. Working longer hours can increase the occupation-specific salary required for the job.

Can you qualify for a Skilled Worker visa on a lower salary?

Yes, but only where you meet the conditions of another salary option. The Skilled Worker rules allow specified applicants to qualify with a lower general salary threshold or a reduced percentage of the going rate.

Potential routes include qualifying applicants with a relevant PhD, a relevant STEM PhD, new entrant status or a job covered by the Immigration Salary List. Separate provisions apply to specified health and education occupations and to certain applicants who qualify under transitional arrangements.

The options are not interchangeable. An applicant cannot select whichever reduced threshold produces the lowest salary. The conditions of the particular salary option have to be met in full.

What is a Skilled Worker new entrant?

A new entrant is an applicant who meets one of the specified conditions for workers at the beginning of their career. It does not simply mean someone making their first Skilled Worker application.

Qualifying categories can include applicants under the relevant age limit, certain current or recent Students and Graduates, people working towards recognised professional qualifications and specified postdoctoral occupations.

A qualifying new entrant can generally rely on a salary of at least £33,400 and 70% of the applicable going rate. Time that can be spent under the new entrant provisions is limited, and previous permission under relevant routes can count towards that maximum period.

See our new entrant Skilled Worker guide for the qualifying conditions and time limits.

Does the Immigration Salary List reduce the salary requirement?

Potentially. An applicant sponsored for an eligible job on the Immigration Salary List can use the salary option attached to that list where its conditions are met.

For a new applicant relying on the relevant Immigration Salary List salary option, salary must be at least £33,400 a year and at least 100% of the applicable going rate. Inclusion on the list therefore reduces the general salary threshold, but it does not provide a percentage discount from the going rate under that option.

The precise occupation entry should also be checked because Immigration Salary List eligibility can be restricted by the part of the UK where the job is based or by the type of work covered within an occupation code.

See our Immigration Salary List guide for the current occupations and restrictions.

Does the Temporary Shortage List reduce the salary requirement?

Not simply because a job appears on the Temporary Shortage List. The list principally determines whether specified medium-skilled jobs can access the Skilled Worker route despite the general skill threshold.

The Temporary Shortage List is not itself a separate tradeable-points salary option equivalent to the Immigration Salary List. Applicants still have to identify which salary option applies to their circumstances and meet the corresponding salary requirements.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that a Temporary Shortage List job automatically attracts a lower salary simply because the occupation is on the list.

See our Temporary Shortage List guidance for the current occupations and conditions.

Can you work part-time on a Skilled Worker visa?

Part-time employment can qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship, but reducing the weekly hours does not simply reduce every salary requirement in the same proportion.

The occupation going rate is generally pro-rated to the sponsored working hours where the published rate is based on a 37.5-hour week. The applicable annual general salary threshold, however, still has to be met. A part-time applicant relying on the standard salary option would therefore still need salary of at least £41,700 a year as well as the applicable pro-rated going rate.

In practice, the general threshold can make sponsorship of some part-time roles difficult even where the hourly or pro-rated going rate is satisfied.

What happens if you work more than 48 hours a week?

Working additional hours cannot normally be used without limit to reach the Skilled Worker general salary threshold. Where the sponsored job involves more than 48 hours a week, salary attributable to only the first 48 hours is generally counted towards the annual salary threshold, subject to the rules for specified uneven working patterns.

The position is different when checking the occupation going rate. The applicant’s full sponsored weekly hours are taken into account when assessing salary against the going rate, including hours above 48.

A role with long contracted hours can therefore fail the salary rules even where the total annual pay initially appears high enough. Both calculations have to be considered separately.

What pay counts towards the Skilled Worker salary requirement?

The salary calculation is based principally on guaranteed basic gross pay. Not every payment made by an employer can be used to meet the Skilled Worker salary requirement.

Additional pay such as overtime, shift pay and bonuses does not normally count, even where it is guaranteed. Employer pension contributions, employer National Insurance contributions and allowances such as accommodation or cost-of-living payments are also generally excluded.

Certain payments made by the worker to the sponsor or a related organisation are deducted from the salary counted for immigration purposes. These include relevant salary deductions, loan repayments and investments, subject to the exception for genuine optional benefits such as qualifying salary-sacrifice arrangements.

There are narrow transitional provisions under which specified allowances can still be counted for certain long-standing Tier 2 (General) workers applying before the relevant deadline.

See our Skilled Worker salary compliance guidance for detailed treatment of salary deductions, payments and benefits.

Section D: Other Skilled Worker Visa Requirements

Once the job and salary requirements have been checked, you also need to meet the other conditions that apply to a Skilled Worker application. These include having valid sponsorship, meeting the English language requirement and, where applicable, showing sufficient funds for your initial expenses in the UK.

Additional requirements can apply depending on your occupation, immigration history and where you are applying from. The evidence needed should therefore be checked against your circumstances rather than treated as a standard document list for every applicant.

What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?

A Certificate of Sponsorship is the electronic sponsorship record assigned to you by a licensed employer for the job on which your Skilled Worker application is based. Despite its name, it is not a paper certificate.

The record confirms information about you and the proposed employment, including the sponsor, job title, occupation code, salary, working hours and employment dates. Your employer will give you the Certificate of Sponsorship reference number to use in your visa application.

A valid Certificate of Sponsorship is a mandatory requirement, but assignment of a CoS does not amount to visa approval. UKVI will still consider whether the sponsorship, job and application satisfy the Skilled Worker rules.

See our Certificate of Sponsorship guide for detailed guidance on CoS requirements and validity.

What should you check on your Certificate of Sponsorship?

Your sponsor is responsible for assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship, but you should check the information that relates to your application before submitting the visa form.

In particular, check:

• your name, nationality and passport details;
• the sponsor’s name and sponsor licence details;
• the job title and occupation code;
• the main duties of the role;
• your annual salary and weekly working hours;
• the employment start and end dates;
• your main work location; and
• any information relevant to the salary option or other provision being relied on.

The occupation code, salary and working hours are particularly important because they can directly affect whether the job qualifies. The information on the CoS should also be consistent with the employment contract, job offer and information you provide in the visa application.

If a material error is identified, raise it with the sponsor before applying. The appropriate way to deal with an error depends on what is wrong and can involve a sponsor note or, in some circumstances, assignment of a new Certificate of Sponsorship.

How long is a Certificate of Sponsorship valid?

You must normally use the Certificate of Sponsorship to make your Skilled Worker application within three months of the date on which it was assigned. A CoS assigned more than three months before the application can result in the application being rejected.

The employment start date recorded on the CoS must also be no more than three months after the date of application.

A CoS cannot be reused following an application that has been granted or refused. It must also remain valid and must not have been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office.

The application date and proposed employment start date should therefore be checked before submission rather than relying only on the fact that a CoS reference number has been issued.

What is the Skilled Worker English language requirement?

Most applicants making their first Skilled Worker application now have to demonstrate English language ability to at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

The English requirement is worth 10 mandatory points. It cannot be compensated for by a higher salary, a more highly skilled job or additional qualifications that do not themselves meet one of the permitted English language routes.

Different rules can apply to existing Skilled Workers under the transitional provisions. The level and evidence required should therefore be checked against the applicant’s immigration history.

See our Skilled Worker English language guide for detailed guidance on the requirement.

Do you need B2 English for a Skilled Worker visa?

Most applicants making their first application for permission as a Skilled Worker on or after 8 January 2026 need to meet the English language requirement at B2 level.

If you held Skilled Worker permission before 8 January 2026 and are applying to extend or update that permission, the transitional requirement remains B1. Where you have already demonstrated English at the required level in a previous successful application, you will not normally need to prove it again.

An applicant switching into the Skilled Worker route from another visa will generally need to meet B2 unless another permitted basis for satisfying the requirement applies.

How can you prove your English?

The Immigration Rules provide several ways to meet the English language requirement. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to rely on:

• nationality of a recognised majority English-speaking country;
• an eligible UK school qualification in English;
• a qualifying UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate;
• an eligible overseas degree taught or researched in English;
• an approved Secure English Language Test; or
• English language ability previously accepted at the level required for the current application.

An overseas academic qualification may require confirmation that it is equivalent to the relevant UK qualification and, where applicable, that it was taught or researched in English.

Doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives and veterinarians can also meet the Skilled Worker English requirement where they have passed an English language assessment accepted by the relevant professional regulator for registration.

Can you reuse previous English language evidence?

You can generally meet the requirement through a previous successful immigration application if you have already demonstrated English at the level required for your current application.

The level is important. Evidence that was sufficient for an earlier application does not automatically meet a higher requirement applying to a later application.

For example, an applicant who previously proved B1 English under another route cannot simply rely on that evidence for a new Skilled Worker application requiring B2 unless a specific transitional provision applies.

Equally, holding a previous UK visa does not necessarily mean that you have already met an English language requirement. Some immigration routes do not require English or use different requirements.

When do you need an English language test?

You will normally need an approved Secure English Language Test if you cannot satisfy the requirement through nationality, an eligible qualification, previous accepted evidence or another permitted route.

The test has to be approved for UK immigration purposes and passed at the required level in each relevant language component. A general English language test or employer assessment does not meet the requirement simply because it demonstrates that you can communicate effectively at work.

Under Appendix English Language, an approved test relied on for this purpose must normally have been passed within the two years before the date of application.

See our English language test guide for the current approved testing requirements and our Appendix English Language guide for the permitted evidential routes.

How much money do you need for a Skilled Worker visa?

Where the financial requirement applies, you must normally have at least £1,270 available to support yourself when you arrive in the UK.

The funds usually have to be held for at least 28 consecutive days. The evidence must meet the requirements in Appendix Finance, including the rules governing the period covered by the financial evidence.

You do not need to show the £1,270 where you are applying for permission to stay and have already been in the UK with valid immigration permission for at least 12 months on the date of application.

You can also meet the requirement without providing personal funds where an A-rated sponsor certifies that it will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate you up to the end of your first month of employment to an amount of at least £1,270.

The maintenance requirement is not a fee. It is money that you may have to demonstrate is available to support you, separate from the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

What other Skilled Worker visa requirements can apply?

Additional requirements depend on the application and the applicant’s circumstances. They can include suitability, immigration status and specified evidence requirements.

You must genuinely intend and be able to undertake the sponsored role. Your application can also be affected by the general grounds in Part Suitability, including matters arising from immigration history, criminality, deception or other conduct where the relevant rules apply.

If you are applying for entry clearance for one of the occupations specifically listed in Appendix Skilled Worker, you may also have to provide criminal record certificates for countries where you have spent the qualifying period. The list covers a wide range of healthcare, education, social care and other specified occupations.

A tuberculosis certificate can be required where the applicable country, residence and length-of-stay conditions are met. Applicants undertaking research in certain sensitive subjects at PhD level or above can also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate where the ATAS rules apply.

If you received a government or international scholarship covering both fees and living costs within the relevant period before applying, written consent from the sponsoring government or agency can also be required.

The supporting documents for these requirements are considered in more detail in the application section that follows.

Section E: How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa

You apply for a Skilled Worker visa online, using the application process for either entry clearance from outside the UK or permission to stay from within the UK. Before submitting the application, you should have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship and have checked that the job, salary, English language and other requirements applying to you are met.

The application is made by the worker, not the sponsoring employer. Your sponsor provides the Certificate of Sponsorship and information about the job, but you remain responsible for the information and evidence submitted as part of your visa application.

How do you apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

The Skilled Worker application process will generally involve:

1. receiving a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer;
2. checking that the sponsored job and salary meet the requirements applying to your application;
3. completing the appropriate online Skilled Worker application form;
4. paying the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, where applicable;
5. proving your identity and providing biometric information where required;
6. providing the supporting documents required for your application; and
7. waiting for UKVI to make a decision.

How you prove your identity depends on your nationality, passport and application circumstances. You may be able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app and your UKVI account, or you may need to attend a visa application centre to provide your fingerprints and photograph.

The information entered on the application form should be checked against the Certificate of Sponsorship and supporting documents before submission. Differences in the occupation code, salary, working hours, employment dates or personal information can lead to further enquiries or affect the application.

When can you apply for a Skilled Worker visa?

You can normally apply up to three months before the employment start date recorded on your Certificate of Sponsorship. The CoS itself must also have been assigned within the permitted period before the date of application.

If you are applying from within the UK, the application should normally be made before your existing immigration permission expires. An in-time application can allow existing permission to continue while the application is pending under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971, provided the statutory conditions are met.

Timing can be particularly important where you are switching from the Student route because additional rules determine when a Student can move into sponsored employment.

What documents do you need for a Skilled Worker visa?

The documents required for a Skilled Worker visa depend on your circumstances and the basis on which you meet the requirements. There is no single document bundle that applies to every applicant.

You will generally need a valid passport or other travel document establishing your identity and nationality and the reference number for your Certificate of Sponsorship. Depending on the application, you may also need evidence of:

• your English language ability;
• maintenance funds, where the financial requirement applies;
• academic qualifications relied on for a salary or English language provision;
• your relationship to any dependants applying with you;
• a tuberculosis test, where required;
• criminal record certificates for specified occupations;
• an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate where applicable; and
• consent from a government or international scholarship agency where the relevant requirement applies.

If a document relied on for the application is not in English or Welsh, a certified translation will generally be required.

The documents needed can also differ according to whether you are applying from overseas, switching from another immigration route or extending existing Skilled Worker permission.

See our Skilled Worker visa documents guide for detailed guidance on supporting evidence.

Skilled Worker visa application checklist

Before submitting the application, check the position as a whole rather than relying only on the document checklist generated by the online form.

• Is your sponsor licensed to sponsor you for the proposed job?
• Is your Certificate of Sponsorship valid and still within its permitted application period?
• Does the occupation code accurately reflect the work you will perform?
• Is the occupation available for sponsorship under the rules applying to you?
• Does the salary meet the requirements of the correct salary option?
• Do the salary and working hours match the Certificate of Sponsorship and employment documents?
• Have you met the applicable English language requirement?
• Have you met the financial requirement or established that an exemption applies?
• Have you obtained any TB, criminal record, ATAS or other certificates required in your circumstances?
• Is the information in the application consistent with your immigration history and supporting documents?

A document checklist is useful for identifying evidence requested through the application process, but it should not be treated as a substitute for checking the requirements in the Immigration Rules. Some requirements arise only because of the applicant’s particular immigration history, occupation or circumstances.

Can you apply for a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK?

Many applicants who already have valid UK immigration permission can switch into the Skilled Worker route without leaving the UK. You still have to meet the Skilled Worker requirements and must not fall within a category from which switching is prohibited.

An in-country application is an application for permission to stay. Your current immigration status matters both to whether you can make the application from within the UK and, in some cases, to the Skilled Worker requirements that apply.

See our switching to a Skilled Worker visa guide for detailed guidance on in-country applications.

Who can switch to a Skilled Worker visa?

Applicants in many UK immigration categories can switch to the Skilled Worker route once they have a qualifying sponsored job. This can include people with permission under the Student, Graduate and dependant routes, subject to the rules applying to their current status.

Switching does not preserve the eligibility rules of the previous immigration category. The applicant has to satisfy the Skilled Worker requirements in force for the new application, including the occupation, salary, sponsorship and English language provisions that apply to them.

Where a transitional Skilled Worker provision is being relied on, the applicant’s previous immigration history can affect which rules apply. The position should therefore be checked before the sponsor assigns the Certificate of Sponsorship where eligibility depends on previous permission.

Who cannot switch to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK?

Some categories of applicant cannot switch into the Skilled Worker route from within the UK. Under the current rules, this includes a person who has, or was last granted, permission:

• as a Visitor;
• as a Short-term Student;
• as a Parent of a Child Student;
• as a Seasonal Worker;
• as a Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
• outside the Immigration Rules.

An applicant in one of the excluded categories will generally need to leave the UK and make an entry clearance application from overseas if they otherwise qualify for the Skilled Worker route.

A person applying for permission to stay must also satisfy the immigration status requirements in Appendix Skilled Worker. Being in breach of the immigration laws or on immigration bail can prevent an in-country application, subject to the exceptions provided under Part Suitability.

Can you switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes, but Students are subject to additional switching conditions. Having a sponsored job offer is not, on its own, enough to move immediately from the Student route into Skilled Worker permission.

A Student will generally need to have completed the course for which their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned. An applicant who has not yet completed the course can qualify where they are studying a full-time course at degree level or above with a qualifying higher education provider and the employment start date on the Certificate of Sponsorship is no earlier than the course completion date.

A separate provision applies to a Student undertaking a full-time PhD. In that case, the Certificate of Sponsorship can provide for the employment to start once the applicant has completed at least 24 months of the PhD, provided the other requirements are met.

The course dates and proposed employment start date should therefore be checked before the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned and the Skilled Worker application is submitted.

See our Student visa to Skilled Worker visa guide for the switching requirements in detail.

Can you switch from a Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. A Graduate visa holder can generally switch into the Skilled Worker route from within the UK if they have an eligible sponsored job and meet the requirements applying to the Skilled Worker application.

Unlike the Graduate route, Skilled Worker permission is tied to sponsored employment. Moving into the route therefore changes the basis on which you are allowed to work in the UK and brings the sponsorship conditions of the Skilled Worker route into effect.

Graduate permission can be relevant to the salary assessment because some applicants switching from the Graduate route may qualify as new entrants, provided the separate new entrant conditions are met. Graduate status does not automatically establish new entrant eligibility.

See our Graduate visa to Skilled Worker visa guide for detailed guidance on the transition between the routes.

What happens after you submit your Skilled Worker visa application?

After the application has been submitted, UKVI will consider whether the validity, suitability and eligibility requirements are met. The assessment can include the information provided by you, the Certificate of Sponsorship and records held about the sponsor and your immigration history.

UKVI can verify supporting documents or seek further information where necessary. Questions can also arise about the sponsored role, occupation code, salary or whether the information in the application is consistent with the sponsorship record.

You should monitor the email address and UKVI account used for the application and respond to any request within the deadline given. A request for further evidence should be considered carefully against the issue UKVI is seeking to resolve rather than answered with unrelated documents.

The standard decision times, priority services and rules on travelling while an in-country application is outstanding are covered in the next section.

Section F: Skilled Worker Visa Costs and Processing Times

The cost of a Skilled Worker visa depends on the length of permission requested, where you apply and whether the job qualifies for a reduced application fee. Most applicants also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, while additional costs can arise for English language testing, translations and other supporting evidence.

Processing times also differ between applications made overseas and those made from within the UK. The published times are service standards rather than guaranteed decision dates, so intended travel and employment should allow for the possibility of delay.

How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost?

The main applicant costs are the visa application fee and, in most cases, the Immigration Health Surcharge. Applicants who are required to meet the financial requirement may also need to show maintenance funds, although those funds are not paid to the Home Office as a fee.

The application fee depends principally on where the application is made and the length of permission requested. A lower fee can apply where the sponsored job qualifies for the relevant Immigration Salary List fee concession.

Dependants make separate applications and normally pay their own application fees and Immigration Health Surcharge.

What is the Skilled Worker visa application fee?

For a Skilled Worker application made from outside the UK, the standard application fee is currently £819 for permission of up to three years and £1,618 for permission of more than three years.

For an application made from within the UK to extend, switch or update Skilled Worker permission, the standard fee is currently £943 for permission of up to three years and £1,865 for permission of more than three years.

A reduced fee applies where the job is on the Immigration Salary List and the applicant qualifies for the concession. The current application fee in those cases is £628 for permission of up to three years and £1,235 for permission of more than three years, whether the application is made inside or outside the UK.

Fees are subject to change, so the amount payable should be checked against the current Home Office fee schedule before the application is submitted.

See our Skilled Worker visa fees guide for current application charges and related costs.

Do you have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?

Most Skilled Worker applicants have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the application process. The standard adult rate is currently £1,035 for each year of immigration permission granted.

The amount is calculated by reference to the period of permission being applied for rather than simply the length of the employment contract in whole years. Partial years can therefore affect the final charge.

The surcharge gives the visa holder access to NHS services broadly on the same basis as an ordinarily resident person during the period of immigration permission, although charges can still apply for services that are not free to residents.

Some applicants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge under separate provisions. Applicants under the Health and Care Visa, for example, do not pay the surcharge where they meet the requirements of that route.

See our Immigration Health Surcharge guide for the current rates, calculation rules and exemptions.

What other Skilled Worker visa costs should you budget for?

The application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge are not necessarily the only costs involved. Depending on how you meet the requirements and the documents you already hold, additional expenditure can include:

• an approved English language test;
• Ecctis assessment of an overseas academic qualification;
• a tuberculosis test;
• criminal record certificates;
• certified translations;
• biometric or visa application centre services where optional paid services are used; and
• priority decision services where available and selected.

You should distinguish these costs from the £1,270 maintenance requirement. Where maintenance applies, the money has to be available to you in accordance with the financial rules; it is not an additional Home Office application charge.

How much does a Skilled Worker visa cost in total?

The total cost depends heavily on the length of the visa because the Immigration Health Surcharge is charged by reference to the period of permission.

For example, an overseas applicant applying for three years of Skilled Worker permission at the standard application rate would currently face an £819 application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. At £1,035 for each full year, three years of IHS would amount to £3,105, producing core immigration charges of £3,924 before any English test, translation, document or professional advice costs.

For five years, the standard overseas application fee would currently be £1,618 and five years of IHS would amount to £5,175, producing core charges of £6,793 before other costs.

These examples are illustrative. The exact IHS calculation depends on the period of immigration permission applied for, and different application fees or exemptions can apply.

Applicants bringing family members should budget separately for each dependant because application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge are generally charged for each person.

How long does a Skilled Worker visa take?

A Skilled Worker visa application made from outside the UK is usually decided within three weeks once the application process and identity requirements have been completed.

An application made from within the UK to switch, extend or update Skilled Worker permission is usually decided within eight weeks.

These are standard published processing times rather than guaranteed deadlines. An application can take longer where UKVI needs further information or additional checks are required.

Can you pay for a faster Skilled Worker visa decision?

Priority and super priority services can be available for some Skilled Worker applications for an additional fee. Availability depends on where and how the application is made and cannot be assumed in every case.

Where the priority service is available, UKVI will generally aim to make a decision within five working days. The super priority service generally aims for a decision by the end of the next working day after the relevant appointment or process, subject to the service terms.

Paying for a priority service does not change the Skilled Worker eligibility requirements and does not guarantee that a case requiring further enquiries will be decided within the target period.

What can delay a Skilled Worker visa application?

Applications can take longer where UKVI needs to investigate an issue before deciding whether the requirements are met. Delay does not necessarily indicate that the application will be refused.

Further enquiries can arise where:

• supporting evidence needs to be verified;
• additional documents or information are required;
• the occupation code or nature of the sponsored role requires further consideration;
• UKVI has questions about the salary or working arrangements;
• the sponsor or sponsorship information needs to be checked;
• the applicant’s immigration history requires further consideration; or
• other suitability or eligibility issues need to be resolved.

Responding promptly to a UKVI request can avoid unnecessary additional delay, but the response should address the issue raised rather than simply providing a larger volume of documents.

Can you travel while your Skilled Worker application is pending?

If you have applied for Skilled Worker permission from within the UK, you should not travel outside the Common Travel Area while the application is awaiting a decision.

Under the Immigration Rules, an application for permission to stay is treated as withdrawn if the applicant leaves the Common Travel Area before a decision is made, subject to limited exceptions that do not ordinarily apply to a Skilled Worker application.

The Common Travel Area comprises the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Applicants with unavoidable international travel should consider the immigration consequences before submitting an in-country application or leaving while one is outstanding.

For an overseas application, you should also avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements on the assumption that a decision will be issued within the standard processing period.

Section G: After Your Skilled Worker Visa is Granted

Once your Skilled Worker visa has been granted, your immigration permission is tied to the sponsored employment on which the application was approved. You can work in that role and undertake other activities permitted by the Immigration Rules, but the visa does not give an unrestricted right to work in the UK.

You should check the details of your eVisa before travelling or starting work and understand the conditions attached to your permission. Changes to your employment can also have immigration consequences, although extensions and changes of employer are covered separately later in this guide.

What should you check when your Skilled Worker visa is granted?

Successful Skilled Worker applicants now receive an eVisa recording their immigration status and the conditions attached to their permission. Before relying on the grant, check that the details shown in your UKVI account are accurate.

In particular, check:

• your name and personal details;
• the start and end dates of your immigration permission;
• the immigration route shown on your status;
• the conditions attached to your permission; and
• that the passport or travel document you intend to use is correctly linked to your UKVI account.

From 1 July 2026, successful new UK visa applicants are generally issued an eVisa rather than an entry clearance vignette. Applicants travelling to the UK should therefore access their UKVI account and check their digital immigration status before departure.

When can you travel to the UK?

If you applied from outside the UK, you can travel once your Skilled Worker permission is valid and you have completed any steps required to use your eVisa for travel.

The validity dates shown on the eVisa determine when your immigration permission begins. Before travelling, check that the passport or other travel document you will use is linked to your UKVI account and that the details on your eVisa are correct.

A visa grant should not be treated as permission to travel before the immigration permission becomes valid. Travel plans should be based on the dates actually granted rather than solely on the proposed employment start date originally entered on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

When can you start work on a Skilled Worker visa?

You can start working in the sponsored role once you have permission to enter or stay in the UK and your employer has completed the required right to work check. Home Office sponsor guidance allows a sponsored worker to start the approved role once permission has been granted, even where this is earlier than the start date recorded on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

You should normally start the sponsored employment no later than 28 days after the latest relevant date. In most Skilled Worker cases, the relevant dates will include:

• the employment start date on the Certificate of Sponsorship, taking account of any permitted change reported before the decision;
• the date from which your immigration permission is valid; or
• the date on which you were notified that permission had been granted.

If the start is delayed beyond the permitted period, the sponsor has reporting obligations and will have to decide whether to continue sponsoring you. UKVI can consider cancelling the permission where it does not accept the reason for a prolonged delayed start.

Reasons such as serious travel disruption, illness, bereavement or the need to complete a contractual notice period can potentially explain a delayed start, but the circumstances are considered individually.

What conditions apply to a Skilled Worker visa?

Skilled Worker permission is granted subject to conditions controlling employment and access to public funds. Under the current Immigration Rules, you can generally:

• work in the job for which you are sponsored;
• undertake permitted supplementary employment;
• carry out voluntary work;
• work out a contractual notice period in a job you were lawfully doing when you made the Skilled Worker application; and
• study, subject to the ATAS requirements where applicable.

You cannot normally access public funds.

The sponsored job remains the basis of the visa. Work outside that role is only permitted where it falls within the conditions attached to Skilled Worker permission or you obtain the immigration permission required for additional employment.

Can you work a second job on a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes, in specified circumstances. A Skilled Worker can undertake supplementary employment without making a new visa application where the additional work meets the conditions in the Immigration Rules.

Supplementary employment must be for no more than 20 hours a week and outside the hours of the sponsored job. The additional work must also fall within one of the permitted categories, which can include work in the same profession and at the same professional level as the sponsored role, a job on the Immigration Salary List or an eligible higher-skilled occupation. Separate transitional provisions apply to some Skilled Workers who have held continuous permission since before 22 July 2025.

You must also continue working in the job for which you are sponsored. A limited exception applies to specified GP trainees during the additional period of permission granted following completion of their Certificate of Sponsorship.

If the additional job satisfies the supplementary employment conditions, you do not need to notify the Home Office before taking it.

What if your second job is more than 20 hours a week?

A second job that does not meet the supplementary employment conditions is not covered by your existing Skilled Worker permission. This can include work for more than 20 hours a week.

You can potentially undertake separate secondary employment, but you will need sponsorship for the additional job and have to make a further application to vary your Skilled Worker permission. If approved, you can hold permission covering two sponsored jobs.

You should not begin secondary employment that falls outside your existing conditions before the required application has been approved.

Can you be self-employed on a Skilled Worker visa?

Self-employment is not automatically prohibited, but any work carried out for your own business has to fall within the employment conditions attached to your Skilled Worker permission.

In practice, work for your own business can potentially be undertaken as supplementary employment where it satisfies the same restrictions that apply to an additional job, including the 20-hour weekly limit and the occupational eligibility rules.

The existence of a business or self-employed arrangement does not override the requirement to continue working in the sponsored role. Applicants considering substantial self-employed work should establish whether it remains supplementary employment or requires a different immigration arrangement.

Can you study on a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. Study is permitted alongside Skilled Worker employment and there is no general immigration limit on the number of hours you can study, provided the study does not prevent you from carrying out the sponsored job.

An Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate can be required where you undertake a course or research subject that falls within the ATAS rules and you are not exempt.

Study does not replace the sponsored employment on which the Skilled Worker permission is based. You must continue to comply with the work conditions attached to the visa.

Can you do voluntary work?

Yes. Voluntary work is expressly permitted under the conditions of the Skilled Worker route.

Care should be taken to distinguish genuine voluntary activity from paid employment described as volunteering. If the arrangement amounts to employment or involves remuneration beyond genuine expenses, the work conditions applying to Skilled Workers may need to be considered.

Can you access public funds?

No. Skilled Worker permission is normally granted subject to a condition preventing access to public funds.

Public funds has a specific meaning under the Immigration Rules and does not encompass every public service or state-funded provision. Access to NHS treatment, for example, is governed separately and is not the same as entitlement to public funds for immigration purposes.

If your financial or personal circumstances change, eligibility for a particular benefit should be checked before making a claim rather than assuming that all government support is available.

Section H: Dependants and Family Members

Eligible partners and children can normally apply to accompany or join a Skilled Worker in the UK, but restrictions apply where the sponsored worker is employed in specified care or medium-skilled occupations. Each family member has to qualify in their own right as a dependant and make a separate application.

A dependant’s permission will usually expire on the same date as the Skilled Worker’s visa. Family members do not have to apply at the same time as the main applicant and can, where eligible, apply to join them later.

Can your family come to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa?

A Skilled Worker can generally be accompanied by a qualifying partner and dependent children. The dependant rules do not extend to parents, grandparents, adult siblings or other relatives simply because the Skilled Worker is supporting them financially.

For immigration purposes, a dependant can include:

• a husband, wife or civil partner;
• an unmarried partner who meets the relationship requirements;
• a child under 18 at the date of their first dependant application; or
• a child aged 18 or over who already holds permission as the Skilled Worker’s dependent child and continues to meet the dependency requirements.

Separate restrictions apply to care workers, senior care workers and workers sponsored in certain medium-skilled occupations. The occupation code of the principal applicant should therefore be checked before assuming that family members can apply.

Can your partner apply as a dependant?

Your spouse, civil partner or qualifying unmarried partner can normally apply as your dependant where the Skilled Worker route permits you to bring dependants.

For a spouse or civil partner, the marriage or civil partnership has to be recognised in the UK. An unmarried partner will generally need to show that the relationship is similar to a marriage or civil partnership and has existed for at least two years.

Living together for the entire two-year period is not an absolute requirement. Where a couple has been unable to live together because of work, study, cultural reasons or other circumstances, they can rely on evidence showing an ongoing and genuine commitment to one another.

The Home Office can consider evidence of the relationship and whether it is genuine and subsisting. The dependant application should therefore be supported by evidence appropriate to the couple’s circumstances rather than assuming that the Skilled Worker’s sponsorship establishes the relationship.

Can your children apply as dependants?

A child under 18 can normally apply as a dependant where the relevant Skilled Worker dependant rules are met. Children born in the UK during the Skilled Worker’s stay can also apply for dependant permission.

A child aged 18 or over can normally continue as a dependant only where they already hold permission as a dependent child. An adult child making their first application as the Skilled Worker’s dependant will not ordinarily qualify under the work-route dependant provisions.

Dependent children are generally expected to live with their parent or parents unless they are living away for full-time education, such as at boarding school or university. They must not be married or in a civil partnership.

The rules also address the position of the child’s other parent. Depending on the circumstances, both parents may need to be applying with the child or already have qualifying UK immigration status, unless an exception applies, for example where the Skilled Worker has sole responsibility for the child.

Which Skilled Workers cannot normally bring dependants?

Dependant rights are restricted for Skilled Workers sponsored as care workers or senior care workers and for workers in specified medium-skilled occupations.

For care workers and senior care workers under occupation codes 6135 and 6136, partners and children can generally continue to qualify where the Skilled Worker has been continuously employed and sponsored in the relevant care occupations since before 11 March 2024. Limited exceptions also apply for certain children, including children born in the UK.

A person who moved into a care worker or senior care worker role after the restriction took effect cannot ordinarily bring a partner or children simply because the worker themselves qualifies for Skilled Worker permission.

Similar restrictions apply where the principal applicant is sponsored in a medium-skilled occupation. Dependants can generally continue to qualify where the worker has held Skilled Worker permission and has been employed in a medium-skilled Skilled Worker role continuously since before 22 July 2025. A new applicant sponsored in a medium-skilled occupation under the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List will not normally be able to bring dependants.

The dependant restrictions contain exceptions and transitional provisions, particularly for children and existing Skilled Worker families. The principal applicant’s occupation code and immigration history should be checked before deciding whether a partner or child qualifies.

See our Skilled Worker dependant visa guide for detailed guidance on the family member requirements and current restrictions.

How much money do Skilled Worker dependants need?

Where the financial requirement applies, additional maintenance funds are required for family members as well as the £1,270 required for the principal Skilled Worker.

The current dependant maintenance amounts are:

• £285 for a dependent partner;
• £315 for the first dependent child; and
• £200 for each additional dependent child.

For example, a Skilled Worker applying with a partner and one child would potentially need to demonstrate £1,870 in total: £1,270 for the main applicant, £285 for the partner and £315 for the child.

The relevant funds generally have to be held for at least 28 consecutive days, subject to the financial evidence rules. The requirement does not normally have to be evidenced where the relevant applicant has already been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months. A qualifying sponsor can also certify maintenance for the worker and their family where the applicable conditions are met.

How do Skilled Worker dependants apply?

Each partner or child makes a separate dependant application. They can apply at the same time as the Skilled Worker or, if eligible, apply later to join them.

A family member applying from outside the UK has to obtain dependant permission before travelling to live in the UK. They will need to prove their identity and provide evidence establishing their relationship to the Skilled Worker and any other requirements applying to the application.

Dependants already in the UK can usually extend or switch into the dependant route where the rules permit, but switching is prohibited from specified immigration categories. These include permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker and Domestic Worker in a Private Household, as well as certain other forms of immigration status.

A dependant who is in the UK as a Student is also subject to additional switching restrictions linked to completion of their course or, for a PhD student, the required period of study.

How much does a Skilled Worker dependant visa cost?

Each dependant pays a separate visa application fee. The fee is calculated by reference to the relevant Skilled Worker application category and length of permission, and a reduced application fee can apply to the family where the principal applicant’s job qualifies under the Immigration Salary List.

Most dependants also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for the period of permission. The current standard rate is £1,035 a year for an adult dependant and £776 a year for a child who is under 18 when the application is made.

Different charging arrangements apply where the principal applicant qualifies for the Health and Care Visa. Eligible Health and Care Visa applicants and their dependants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

As with the principal applicant, maintenance funds are separate from the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge and are not paid to the Home Office.

What can a Skilled Worker dependant do in the UK?

A dependent partner can generally work in the UK without needing employer sponsorship and can change employer without making a new immigration application solely because of the employment change. Restrictions apply to work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.

Dependants can also study in the UK, subject to any ATAS requirement applying to the course. They cannot normally access public funds.

A qualifying partner or child can potentially apply for indefinite leave to remain after meeting the relevant settlement requirements. The dependant’s settlement position is assessed separately from the Skilled Worker’s own eligibility for ILR.

What happens if a child is born in the UK?

A child born in the UK to a Skilled Worker does not automatically become a British citizen merely because they were born here. Their citizenship position depends on the parents’ status and the nationality law in force at the date of birth.

If the child is not British, an application can be made for Skilled Worker dependant permission. The child will need immigration permission before travelling outside the UK and returning as a dependant.

A full UK birth certificate showing the parents’ details will normally be required for the application.

Section I: Extending Your Visa, Changing Jobs and ILR

A Skilled Worker visa can be extended and can lead to indefinite leave to remain, provided the relevant requirements continue to be met. A change of employer or certain changes to the sponsored role can also require a fresh Skilled Worker application before the new employment begins.

Extension, change of employment and settlement should be treated separately. Remaining eligible for another period of Skilled Worker permission does not necessarily mean that you already meet the requirements for settlement.

Can you extend a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes. You can apply to extend your Skilled Worker permission if you continue to have qualifying sponsored employment and meet the requirements applying to the extension application.

You will need a new Certificate of Sponsorship covering the further period of employment. The occupation, salary and sponsorship arrangements must remain eligible under the rules applying to you at the date of application.

An extension application has to be made online before your existing permission expires. If you apply in time, you can normally continue working under your existing immigration conditions while the application is being decided.

Different salary and occupation provisions can apply to workers who first entered the Skilled Worker or predecessor Tier 2 route before later rule changes. For example, some existing Skilled Workers in medium-skilled occupations can continue to rely on transitional provisions where they were granted Skilled Worker permission under the Rules in force before 22 July 2025 and have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then. Additional occupation-specific conditions can also apply.

Different salary provisions can apply where the applicant was granted Skilled Worker permission under the Immigration Rules in force before 4 April 2024 and has held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then.

Can you change employer on a Skilled Worker visa?

Yes, but changing to a different employer normally requires a new Skilled Worker application. The new employer has to hold the appropriate sponsor licence and assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship for an eligible job.

The new job has to meet the Skilled Worker requirements applying to your circumstances, including the occupation and salary rules. You can normally apply up to three months before the proposed start date of the new job.

You can continue working for your existing sponsor while the change-of-employment application is being considered, provided you applied before your current permission expired. You should not start the new sponsored job until UKVI has granted permission for it.

Your partner and children do not automatically receive updated permission when you change employer. They make separate applications where an update to their dependant permission is required.

Do you need a new visa if your job changes?

Not every change to your employment requires a new Skilled Worker application. The immigration effect depends on what is changing.

You will normally need to apply to update your visa where:

• you move to a different employer;
• your job changes to a different occupation code and you are not within an applicable exception; or
• you move from a job covered by the Immigration Salary List to a job that is not on the list where the change affects the basis of your permission.

If you remain with the same employer and your new role falls within the same occupation code, a new Skilled Worker application will not always be required. The sponsor can still have reporting obligations and the role must remain consistent with the conditions of sponsorship.

Changes to salary, working hours, duties or work location can also have sponsor reporting or immigration implications even where they do not automatically require a new visa application.

Read our comprehensive guide to sponsored role changes here.

What if your occupation code changes?

A change to a different occupation code will normally require you to update your Skilled Worker permission before starting the new role. The new occupation code must itself be eligible and the new job must meet the salary and other requirements applying to you.

Medium-skilled occupations are subject to additional restrictions. An existing Skilled Worker can generally update into a medium-skilled occupation only where the applicable transitional provisions permit it. These provisions can depend on the worker having been granted Skilled Worker permission under the Rules in force before 22 July 2025, having held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then and meeting any additional occupation-specific requirements.

A change in duties should therefore be assessed before the role changes in practice. A new title does not necessarily mean a new occupation code, but a substantial change in the work can do so even where the employer keeps the same internal job title.

A significant salary reduction can itself also trigger the need for a fresh Skilled Worker application even where the employer and occupation code remain unchanged.

What happens if you lose your sponsored job?

Losing sponsored employment can affect your Skilled Worker status because the visa is granted on the basis of that employment. The sponsor has to report the end of sponsorship to the Home Office where the reporting requirements apply.

UKVI can then consider cancelling or shortening the worker’s existing permission. The immigration position does not necessarily change on the final day of employment, but the worker should not assume that the original visa expiry date remains secure once sponsorship has ended.

If you find another qualifying job with a licensed sponsor, you can potentially make a new Skilled Worker application. Alternatively, you may be able to switch into another immigration route if you meet its requirements.

The available options and timing should be considered as soon as employment is at risk, particularly where a future settlement application depends on maintaining qualifying immigration status.

Does a Skilled Worker visa lead to ILR?

Yes. Under the current Immigration Rules, the Skilled Worker route can lead to indefinite leave to remain after a qualifying period of five years in the UK, provided the settlement requirements are met.

Settlement is not automatic after five years. You must satisfy the continuous residence requirement, meet the applicable salary and sponsorship requirements and meet the knowledge of Life in the UK requirement. From 26 March 2027, Skilled Worker settlement applicants will also be subject to a B2 English language requirement unless an exemption applies.

You must have, or have last been granted, permission as a Skilled Worker when applying for settlement under this route.

See our Skilled Worker settlement guide for detailed guidance on the ILR requirements.

How long do you need to be in the UK before applying for ILR?

The current qualifying period for Skilled Worker settlement is five continuous years in the UK.

The five years do not have to consist entirely of Skilled Worker permission. Time with permission on certain other qualifying routes can be combined with Skilled Worker time, provided the requirements in Appendix Skilled Worker are met.

Qualifying routes currently include:

• Skilled Worker;
• Global Talent;
• Innovator Founder;
• T2 Minister of Religion;
• International Sportsperson;
• Representative of an Overseas Business;
• Scale-up; and
• qualifying Tier 1 permission, other than Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur).

Time spent in the UK as a dependant does not count towards the five-year qualifying period for settlement as a Skilled Worker.

Can absences from the UK affect Skilled Worker ILR?

Yes. Skilled Worker settlement is subject to Appendix Continuous Residence.

Under the current rules, you must generally have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the qualifying period. Different treatment can apply to certain historic absences and specified exceptional circumstances.

Appendix Continuous Residence also provides exceptions for particular absences, including specified humanitarian or environmental work, serious travel disruption, compelling and compassionate circumstances and approved overseas research undertaken by Skilled Workers in specified research occupations.

Applicants with significant travel should calculate their absences across the full qualifying period before deciding when to apply for settlement.

What salary do you need for Skilled Worker ILR?

Salary remains an eligibility requirement at settlement. For most applicants who do not fall within another settlement salary category, the current requirement is salary of at least £41,700 a year and at least the applicable standard going rate for the occupation.

Different settlement salary rules can apply where the worker’s most recent job is on the Immigration Salary List, where transitional provisions apply to workers whose Skilled Worker or Tier 2 sponsorship began before 4 April 2024 or where the worker is in a specified health or education occupation.

For example, qualifying applicants who were granted Skilled Worker permission under the Immigration Rules in force before 4 April 2024 and have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then can be subject to a lower general settlement salary threshold of £31,300 together with the applicable lower going rate. Different figures apply in some Immigration Salary List, health and education cases.

The sponsor must also still hold the appropriate licence and confirm that it continues to require you to work for it for the foreseeable future at salary meeting the settlement requirement.

The salary test for ILR should therefore be checked separately from the salary test that applied when the current Skilled Worker permission was granted.

Do you need the Life in the UK Test for Skilled Worker ILR?

Yes. Skilled Worker settlement applicants have to meet the knowledge of Life in the UK requirement under Appendix KOL UK.

This will normally mean passing the Life in the UK Test unless an exemption applies. The requirement should be completed before the settlement application is submitted.

Do you need English for Skilled Worker ILR?

The settlement English requirement changes from 26 March 2027. For Skilled Worker settlement applications made on or after that date, applicants will need to demonstrate English language ability in speaking and listening at B2 level unless an exemption applies.

The requirement is assessed under Appendix English Language. Applicants planning to become eligible for settlement on or after 26 March 2027 should therefore take the B2 requirement into account when preparing for ILR.

Summary

The Skilled Worker visa is the UK’s main sponsored work route for overseas nationals taking up eligible employment with a licensed employer. To qualify, applicants have to meet the Immigration Rules on sponsorship, occupation, salary, English language and supporting evidence. A job offer alone is not enough, and applications can be refused where any of the mandatory requirements are not satisfied.

This guide explains the Skilled Worker visa requirements, including who can apply, how the points-based system works, salary thresholds, eligible occupations, Certificates of Sponsorship, English language rules, the application process, costs, processing times and the conditions that apply after the visa is granted. It also covers switching from within the UK, extending permission and the route to settlement. Whether you are applying from overseas or already in the UK, understanding the rules before you apply can help avoid delays, unnecessary expense and the risk of refusal.

Need Assistance?

DavidsonMorris advises Skilled Worker applicants and UK sponsors on every aspect of the route, including eligibility assessments, occupation code selection, salary compliance, Certificates of Sponsorship, visa applications, switching, extensions, changes of employment and settlement applications.

If you are planning to apply for a Skilled Worker visa or need advice on your eligibility, contact DavidsonMorris for expert guidance from our UK immigration solicitors.

Skilled Worker visa FAQs

Can you get a Skilled Worker visa without a job offer?

No. You need an eligible job offer from a UK employer authorised to sponsor workers under the Skilled Worker route. The employer must assign you a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job before you make the visa application.

The Skilled Worker route is not a visa that you can generally obtain first and then use to look for unrestricted work in the UK.

Do you need a degree for a Skilled Worker visa?

No. The Skilled Worker skill requirement applies to the job rather than to your academic qualifications.

Most new applicants need to be sponsored in an occupation classed as higher skilled, generally at RQF Level 6 or above, unless a permitted exception applies. RQF Level 6 describes the skill level of the occupation; it does not mean that you have to hold a university degree.

An employer, professional regulator or particular occupation can separately require academic or professional qualifications for the job.

Does having 70 points guarantee a Skilled Worker visa?

No. You need 70 points under the Skilled Worker points requirements, but meeting the points threshold does not establish that every requirement of the application has been satisfied.

An application can still fail because of a separate validity, financial, suitability or evidential issue. The application therefore has to be assessed against the complete Skilled Worker requirements rather than the points calculation alone.

What happens if your employer loses its sponsor licence?

Loss of your employer’s sponsor licence can affect your Skilled Worker permission because your visa is based on sponsorship by that employer.

The Home Office can cancel or shorten your immigration permission. Where your permission is curtailed, you will generally need to secure another immigration basis to remain in the UK or leave before the revised expiry date.

If you obtain another eligible job with a licensed sponsor, you may be able to make a new Skilled Worker application. The new employer will need to assign a new Certificate of Sponsorship and the new job must meet the Skilled Worker requirements.

Can you apply for a Skilled Worker visa after a previous UK visa refusal?

Yes, in many cases. A previous refusal does not automatically prevent a Skilled Worker application, but its effect depends on why the earlier application was refused.

A refusal caused by missing evidence raises different issues from a decision involving deception, false representations, criminality or a breach of immigration conditions. Where the previous decision raises an issue under Part Suitability or otherwise remains relevant to the new application, it should be considered before applying again.

You should disclose your immigration history accurately and ensure that the information in the new application is consistent with previous applications and Home Office records.

Can a Skilled Worker visa application be refused?

Yes. An employer being willing and licensed to sponsor you does not guarantee that the visa will be granted.

Refusal can result from an ineligible job, an inappropriate occupation code, insufficient salary, invalid sponsorship, failure to meet the English language requirement or problems with financial, suitability or supporting evidence requirements. UKVI can also examine whether the sponsored role is genuine and whether the occupation code properly reflects the work.

If an application is refused, the appropriate next step depends on the reason. A fresh application may be appropriate where the problem can be corrected, while some decisions can be challenged by administrative review. The refusal decision should be assessed before deciding whether to reapply or seek a review.

Glossary

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